Centre-Val de Loire Region

We stayed in some wonderful Airbnbs during our 3-month travels in France. A few of them were so welcoming that we could imagine just moving in and making them our new home. This beautiful cottage in Dhuizon was definitely one of those. The location gave us access to all the beauty of the Centre-Val de Loire Region and welcomed us home each evening to the comforts of a lovingly cared-for family home.

First Impressions

We arrived in the quaint town of Dhuizon a little before 7pm after spending a few hours touring Le Château d’Ussé on our way from our previous stay at a French Family Farm.  We instantly fell in love with Gîte de Sologne, which you can find more information about on their dedicated website or at their Airbnb listing. The home was located directly on one of the main roads of the town, but the entry gate and the beautiful shrubs and landscaping provided privacy from nearby homes and traffic. Long after our stay, we have referred to this location as the “Cottage Home.”

The Cottage Home had all the charm you would expect from the Loire region. Its brick exterior, tiled roof, and wooden shutters  were a gorgeous backdrop for the abundant flowers that were lovingly planted all around the property. Boasting a large backyard, a paved terrace, and a large outbuilding with another attached seating area, we were already feeling welcomed before even walking through the front door.

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Our host met us to hand over the keys and give us a brief tour. She didn’t speak any English but, through the magic of Google Translate (and a quick call to her brother who spoke fluent English), we were able to communicate effectively enough. We discovered that she had actually grown up in this home, along with her siblings. The property is a venture shared by their entire family who clean and maintain the property themselves between visits.

The charm of the outside was reflected on the inside as well, with beautiful hardwood floors and exposed stone and brick on display throughout. A tour of the home revealed a renovated kitchen with modern appliances and all the necessary dishes, utensils, and cooking essentials. A large, updated full bath with a separate room for the toilet was located off the kitchen. The ground floor also included a large dining area, a laundry/utility space, a primary bedroom with a queen-sized bed, and a living room which featured a beautiful fireplace and two comfortable sofas. Upstairs, we found two large bedrooms. One had a double bed and desk that was perfect for Ellie and another featured two twin-sized beds for Rachel and Sophie to share.

Town of Dhuizon

Dhuizon, with a population just over 1,200, was perfectly situated to grant us access to the abundant beauty of the Centre-Val de Loire Region. Built in the late 1700s, the town is located within 50 km of at least 6 different châteaux along with a number of parks, gardens, and vineyards. The Town Hall and St. Peter’s Church, both located downtown, feature the French Provencial architecture that was popular throughout the French countryside in the 17th and 18th century. Dhuizon offers local bakeries, shops, and restaurants all within an easy walk of the cottage.

The cottage proved to be a wonderful base from which to tour nearby sites. We made a day trip to the Château Royal d’Amboise during our stay here which was a very manageable distance, even allowing for a stop in Blois for dinner. We also enjoyed the brief 10 minute drive to Château de Chambord after checking out of the beautiful cottage. We only wish we’d had more time to spend in Dhuizon. We would have loved to visit Château de Cheverny, Château de Chenonceau, and the town of Orleans among other sites. We’ve definitely added these locations to our bucket list for a return trip to the area.

Making Ourselves at Home

On our first evening, we got settled and then went in search of food, walking to a nearby restaurant where we purchased kebab sandwiches for the adults and burgers for the Littles for dinner. We all ended up going to bed early after a long travel day and castle tour.

The following morning, Kevin and I left the three girls behind to work on school while we ventured out in search of groceries. We traveled to nearby Blois where we purchased most of our groceries for the week at a large Auchan market. We also stopped by both Aldi and Lidl in search of bottled water.

This day was special for Ellie as she finished her senior seminar class with the final group presentation submission. As this class had provided quite a bit of stress for her during the first several weeks, she was glad to have this responsibility out of the way, freeing up more time for her other classes and to more completely enjoy the rest of our tour of France.

We do want to point out that, at least for Ellie, traveling in France while continuing her studies would not have been possible without the help of our SurfShark VPN. Without the ability to set her location to somewhere in the US, she would have been unable to access any of the necessary platforms to complete her coursework or use her school email. This is definitely something to keep in mind if you’re considering taking a similar extended trip while trying to continue your studies. We absolutely recommend SurfShark as it allows for unlimited devices! As a family of 5 with lots of laptops, tablets, and phones this was (and continues to be) an invaluable subscription for us. Don’t forget that it also protects all of your data while traveling, which is a huge plus when you’re constantly in different locations and/or using public wifi!

Cooking In

Kevin and I really enjoyed cooking in the updated kitchen of the cottage. While the size of the kitchen was smaller than most found in the US, it was extremely well organized and supplied. Breakfasts usually consisted of scrambled eggs with bacon, yogurt with fruit and a sprinkle of muesli (a blend of grains, nuts, and sometimes dark chocolate), or a bowl of muesli with milk. Kevin, Ellie, and I also enjoyed our daily cup of coffee along with some cookies each morning.

Evening dinners were also delicious during this stay. Kevin and I cooked fresh pork chops, sautéed mushrooms, and broccoli for a family dinner and we all enjoyed it with a fresh baguette and rich butter. On another night, Kevin cooked succulent fresh chicken thighs in addition to buttered potatoes with garlic and bacon. The girls also had their first taste of duck in a casserole we purchased from the deli at the Auchan market. After dinner each night, we enjoyed some family time before the Littles went to bed. The adults would typically enjoy a glass of red wine while we all watched YouTube or a show together, switching over to some football once the Littles were in bed.

The Cottage Home was a little piece of heaven tucked away in the countryside of the beautiful Centre-Val de Loire Region. When I think of potentially relocating to France, this home has set the standard of what I would look for in a cozy home that embodies the architecture, setting, and comfort of France.